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Early on in my wedding planning, I started thinking that I needed an event designer. I had so many ideas in my head about the look and feel of our wedding, and I wanted someone to help me navigate through all the great inspiration out there. I wasn’t thinking about hiring a planner. I was excited about the planning and didn’t want anyone to take that off my hands. I just wanted someone to help me establish a vision.
Lynn Easton Andrews, Charlottesville wedding planner / From Easton Events blog / Photo by Jen Fariello
I emailed all of the wedding planners in town with some questions. Two didn’t seem interested, but the rest were enthusiastic and sent information about their packages. One of the big names in the area even had a “design only” package, which was pretty appealing. Another created a custom package for me. At this point, my busy season at work began and I set planning aside for a few weeks.
When I eventually got back to thinking about the wedding, we had actually seen our venue in person for the first time and a vision for the event had started to emerge. I switched to thinking about wedding coordinators in general, not just event designers. I read everything I could about planners on message boards and review sites. The one factor that people seemed to disagree on was whether hiring a planner saves money. Some people say that wedding planners negotiate better contracts for their clients.
If you have used a planner, did they save you money? Do you think the planner was something “nice to have” or was it a “must have” for a wedding? If you aren’t using a planner, did you consider it?
I really want to know this too, I can’t wait to hear everyone’s opinion. I guess another question is how did you convince your FI that a planner was the best idea!!
Well I hired a wedding planner to help me with things leading up to the big day, but mostly to help me with the rehearsal and also to do things during the wedding day itself. She’s pretty new to the business so I don’t think she’s saved me any money, but I’m hoping not having to worry about the little details on my wedding day will be worth the cost!
I didn’t hire a planner, but we had a long engagement. I think if I was crunched for time I would have hired one to help me stay sane — not to necessarily score deals with other vendors. I know it’s not the same, but I have been debating hiring a DOC…
I didnt hire a planner or a DOC but looking back i really wish we would have hired at least a DOC. For example i sat and ate way too much dinner before going to talk to guests, i only made it halfway around the room before being called to the father daughter dance - if we had a DOC they would have kept us on track and told us when we should have done this or that.
On another hand, i went to a cousins wedding recently and they had a planner/DOC and she was really pushy. i almost felt like we were a heard of cattle, go here, now go here, ok time for this…while its great it and really keeps things going it was a bit annoying at times. i think the pushiness is what really got me - no need for attitude though i guess i can sympathize because getting 200+ people to do what you want would take some pushiness.
My mom is a wedding planner. (WIN!) And I can tell you that they do get better deals with the vendors.
Think about it this way, vendors like dealing with wedding planners versus a stressed-out bride, plus for them, AND the wedding planner is more likely to bring return business, whereas a bride is most likely a one-time deal.
So, vendors want to keep the planners happy and coming back.
Big plus for the bride? Someone helps with some of the decisions along the way AND someone else is in charge day of. If something goes wrong, the flowers are late, the cake isn’t set up right, or let’s say the buffet catches on fire (yes, this has happened to my mom), the planner is there to take care of it, get it cleaned up, and prettied up. And the bride never needs to know.
If my mom hadn’t already filled the position, I would totally hire at least a DOC. The peace of mind alone is worth it.
@coasterkim: Veeery interesting!
@TinyTina: I’m on the same page as you. I love the planning! I see the merit of having a DOC.
@totheislnds: Working out the timing is definitely something I’d love help with!
@sparrow_voice: I have to admit that it seems unfair for a vendor to charge the girl who can’t afford a planner more. So the cake baker who quoted me $5/slice might charge someone who paid for a planner $4?
I go through bouts of being pessimistic about the wedding industry and this just threw me into one.
I have been tossing around an event design and day-of planner within the past month. I can’t wait to hear everyone’s responses!
Hi! As another Cville bride, I also have been wondering about coordinators and designers. Similarly, a few of the people i contacted just didn’t seem interested in a small cozy handmade-feel wedding. Hope everything works out for you!
@Kat: I’m happy to chat with you by email, if you’d like. In general, Day of Coordination starts at $1,500 here. Partial planning starts at $3,000. There are some exceptions, of course.
I was definitely surprised by how dismissive some of the planners in the area were when I emailed them, especially since I was an established blogger and early adopter of social media before I joined Weddingbee. Perhaps they didn’t understand how powerful social media can be. 
I decided to skip the day of coordinator, but that is largely because I plan political and media events and have planned/coordinated over 500. As far as negotiating better deals, I haven’t found that to be the case. One of my best friends got married in the same city as me. She was quoted double the price for the same venue (and her planner was a recommended vendor for the venue). She went with a different venue but stuck with the planner. We used the same DJ/lighting company. The price I am being charged for my entire package is the cost of what she was charged for just DJ services. So without a wedding planner, I saved $6,500 on these 2 items without the help of a planner. I never worked with these vendors previously, so there was no discount for previous business.
….waiting also. I have read the money you spend on a planner should either equal what you would gain by them helping you save money, or should equal what you would save doing it all yourself.
I have interviewed two and fiance seems to think he can coordinate the days events just fine…..LOL.
I’m a corporate event planner and recent bride (11/5/11). Even I had someone as a DOC (granted someone I knew well), but you will still need someone to help you on the day of. I could plan every last detail of the wedding, but I couldn’t be there to make sure the linens were placed correctly, or the escort cards layed out, or the lighting levels were right. A DOC will give you peace of mind on your wedding day. And don’t ever think your venue coordinator will offer the same service. First and foremost, their job is specific to the venue. They are technically not responsible for putting out your placecards. They may offer to do it, but it’s just not the same level of service.
Will they save you money? It depends on how they operate. If you hire someone to do your full planning be sure to find out about the pay structure. Will you pay a flat fee or a %? Some coordinators get discounted rates from vendors and extend those discounts to their brides. Others have the vendors charge you regular rates (what you would have gotten if you called that vendor directly), but then the vendor gives the coordinator a payback - or the discount offered only to that coordinator. As someone just said above me, vendors give their best discounts to coordinators, that is a fact. A vendor who does not know you will not give you their best rate - you will not be a repeat customer, but the coordinator will. So making sure you understand if you will get those discounts extended to you is important. In the long run however, a DOC will at least point you in the direction of the best, most reputable vendors and that worth a lot as well.
We went with a DOC, though she’s been pretty involved since we brought her on a few months ago. She’s definitely saved us money! - 10% discount on all rentals, and many setup and transport fees nixed since she and her team are handling all that. She’s definitely saved us at least as much as her DOC fee.
Now, about 7 weeks out, I am considering adding her on as a full-time coordinator/designer for the hectic rush to the finish line!
It’s interesting that a few have commented about a bride being a one-time customer. I know women who order birthday cakes from the baker who made their wedding cakes. Their wedding photographer does their family portraits.
Now, a destination bride is probably not a repeat customer, but one who is local will be. What’s more, that local bride probably has a social circle of women her same age or at the same point in their lives.
I’ve planned large scale events before and given how tight my budget is (a planner would be likely over 50% of the budget) I just couldn’t justify it.
However, I do appreciate the value of a planner or DOC. But, I’m go with the flow enough that if the escort cards get ruined or the food isn’t out on time I’ll just laugh it off.
I hired a month of coordinator with some extras. But I am planning from 3,000 miles away and after recently being a working guest at a friends wedding I know I made the right choice. But make sure your venue doesn’t have a coordinator that can do most or all of what your needs are.
Also, another friend of mine who was married in September had a Full time Coordinator and although my friend thought she was wonderful - She was Horrible! I won’t go into details but any shop-a-holic with a credit card could have done what she did.
The Month Coordinator I am using sold me when she is dealing with ALL RSVP’s and follow ups, plus she handles all contracts of vendors before and after I sign and place deposits. Just be picky - its not all about color coordination. Make sure they will handle the tasks and phone calls that could cause stress the weeks prior.
We hired a day of coordinator to deal with all the vendors and decor. I knew what I wanted within two or three months of being engaged, haha.
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Miss Mink, Charlottesville, Virginia Age and Occupation: 34, College Administrator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Craft Beer Consultant Engagement Date: November 26, 2010 Wedding Date: June 2012 Venue: Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards About Me: I left a pre-war brownstone in Boston six years ago to live in a funky, Southern city where Thomas Jefferson, Dave Matthews, and urban chicken keepers enjoy equal social standing. I still love my Patriots and Red Sox, but have fallen in love with Virginia. I work in education and specialize in integrating technology into my work to improve the student experience. I’m a diehard blogger, animal lover, jamband follower, and DIYer. I paint to relax and have transferred by energy from home projects to wedding projects in recent months. When Mr. Mink and I started talking about marriage, we knew our wedding would be outdoors, that my golden retriever would be part of the day, and that the music would be fantastic. We’ve taken a few risks during our planning process and we’ve been enjoying the process immensely!
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